Professional Burnout in Anaesthesia and Critical Care - How to Decrease it

Abstract

evaluation of data, development and implementation of strategies to maintain the desired safe patient status. These demands make the humans responsible to provide safe operations, stretch and strain their physiological system to the limits [5].A recent French investigation revealed existence of stress in as high as 29.8% of professionals working in the operating theatre [6]. Also, in a other survey, majority of Irish residents in anaesthesiology felt that work-related stress affected their health and performance [1]. The human physiology follows a circadian pattern of alertness and performance and needs vital time for sleep and breaks to avoid burn out. Unregulated duty hours and demanding job often leads to development of burnout in anesthesiologists. This can impair the individual's cognitive function. Poor vigilance due to lack of rest and sleep can lead to errors and thereby increase morbidity/mortality. Now-a-days there is a stress on quality and patient safety.

The anesthesiologist, stress, burn-out and the coping strategies

“…Family and personal time are crucial for reducing stress. 28 Having a good network of professional associates is essential for anesthesiologists to function smoothly as a team. Never put pressure on anesthesiologists who are sleep deprived to provide anesthesia.…”